HAPPY NEW YEAR BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Here we are the last day of 2018. This blog will be read in a day, week, month, year and even five years. As so many of my blogs that get read today are from some years ago.

 

So, when you read this, where will you be in life? Who will you be, where will I be and who will I be?

 

The odd thing about the end of a year, means the new year has a whole 12 months in front of us all. What will the new year have planned for us? What do we have planned for 2019 and moreover, what will we achieve out of everything we want to happen?

 

This time next year, will we be proud of where we will be standing in life? I hope so. I wonder how many more years I will be in the dark as far as my vision is concerned. Looking back at life, I am not so desperate for that cure as I was in my past, though if I learned that there will never be one, I will be devastated. So, this year, we have travelled a short distance to finding treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa, my eye disease, but still we are so far away from anything that will make it so I can look at my Husband, child and hope for seeing our Grandchildren in the future.

 

   One day though something huge will happen, may be something will just occur in the lab by accident and that will be the dream for us all. The end to all kinds of blindness.

 

Oh, how life would be so good. What a difference it will make for us.  I would be a completely different person. I would be free to help those who need it. Just to be able to read a letter. See a face, look in the mirror, drive a car, get to places with ease. No stress. Shop for gifts at Christmas without the awful pain of trying to get people gifts I know they will like. Or hope they will enjoy, without searching the internet, then getting something that I thought it was only to learn it’s not quite as good as I thought it would be… I do try to buy gifts for people that I think they will like, and I get quite a lot of abuse from some people who quite frankly are plain rude. As my gifts to them are far better than the ones they give to us. I was brought up to say thank you for whatever anyone bought me, but this year has shown me a few people who really were shocking, and at first it hurt as I really did buy what I would call class, but not to their taste obviously, well next year they will be getting gifts that will be very simple.

 

My brother in law was so grateful for his gifts and my friend Pip was over the moon bless her for what they received. But then there were others… One day, they may realise just how difficult it is for us to buy for people. No one bothers to ask us if we are OK for Christmas or do, we need a hand to buy things? Even when my Son was young. People never thought about how I managed to get his toys etc.

 

But hey, he never did without and I have myself to pat on the back if I can reach, if you think blind people get help from family and friends, then you are so mistaken. Most of us just have to get on with it. It probably has aged me, but I guess it has made me what and who I am today.

It’s been a funny year. On reflection. We had a great summer with our friend Pip. I think she is fantastic and when she wasn’t working, she gave her time to us and we had some great days out. We laughed lots too. She’s working now but we are friends forever and I shall see her when she has some spare time, may be for a coffee and catch up.

 

I have enjoyed my few days out with my friend B, and managed to get to some craft fairs this year. I have even been to garden centres. I will say this, that the garden centres where I now live, are dreadful compared to where I used to live. This area doesn’t do magical garden centres like Northumberland and Newcastle   do!

 

Hub has received a huge promotion at work. This has given me a Husband who is now so very serious. But I wonder if that change will find the old Hub again once everything gets sorted at work. Right now, there is so much for him to do. He has work on his mind and the year ahead. He was telling our Son tonight his job now is much more stressful than his job he did some years ago. This shocked BW as years ago, my Husband could be in the thick snow of Canada for a few days, then the heat of South Africa the next day, then France, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Australia, Japan and back to America before heading to London for his final meeting. And then home to us. In that time, he would be in short sleeves and then heavy coats and boots. All within just over a couple of weeks.

 

When he was away, he would be dealing with so many different subjects. Different contracts. I went with him on a couple of journeys, and his job was very political. He had so much respect and was thought of as very important, an yet, he says this job is more stressful? I somehow doubt it, I think it’s because right now he is doing most of the work but when he gets his new managers in post, then life will start to make more sense. Thank goodness he has great teams working with him. Also, he’s an old man now, Hahahaha, fifty now you know, gosh, he is so much older than me….

Stop it!!!!

He said he has had a great Christmas, so hopefully when he returns to work, he will be ready to start the new year fresh. He is a perfectionist and doesn’t do half of anything, our boy takes after him for that.

 

Talking of our boy, he really doesn’t want to go out tonight. But sham does. I suggested he should let Shamrock go with her friends, but he said she won’t go if he doesn’t go out. Hahah. Bless him. She would go out, and have a great time. Sham knows how to have fun.

 

She’s coming here tomorrow for her lunch… not too sure though she will feel like eating. She’s asked me to make her favourite sandwiches so I shall do that for her… and there is enough cheese for us all to enjoy. I have loads of vegan food and tarts for Hub as well as loads of snacks. Tomorrow, the first, is buffet style food.

 

So, what are you all doing tonight to see the New Year in? let’s just hope there will be peaceful parties all across the world.

 

We have sorted out a load of rubbish in our lives this year. Closed the door to what we don’t need or want. And have only good in our lives now. still rubbish lingers, but only around the perimeter of life, outside the fence and they can’t climb over anymore.!

Well six years ago today, when this blog started, I was amazed to have almost 6000 readers, fast forward six years, we are now up to

354,825

How many of you are here today and were in my first year? How many of you will be here in six years? In fact, will I, even be here? I have so many hopes for the next six years, as I had for the past six!

 

At least now, Hub and I are sorted in life. We understand so much now that we were just learning about in the past.

  

I hope you have laughed with me this year and learned something, as I have. Thank you all so much for your emails and messages. Without you all, this blog wouldn’t exist. Your shares and contacts have made it possible. To my Dearest L, you know what you mean to me. To P, and J, I pray life will show you a new door to open and enter into a new world. To all of you, make sure your dreams really do come true. That is what dreams are for, to come true.

 

Whether you have made a wish whilst setting flames on your Christmas pudding, or pulled a wishbone and made a wish, whether you have kissed and wished under the mistletoe or thrown a coin in a wishing well. Whatever you have wished for this year, I hope it all comes true in 2019.

 

Happy New Year Bloggets. Best wishes for the new year ahead. December wishes, to January kisses.

Chat again next year.

 

AUDIO TV BY FIONA CUMMINGS

We sat to watch some movies last night. The first one came on. Oh, it was rubbish. The young actors these days really really can not act. They have no personality. No expression in their voices. We really are as a society, being programmed to be like robots.

 

Second film didn’t have audio, nor was the third or fourth. So, we spent a good fifteen minutes fast forwarding. In the end we gave up.

 

It’s really funny how we react when there is no audio description. Firstly, we are so fortunate in this country as almost every drama etc does  have the facility to have AD on. But these films? No. only the first one and seriously, that was so bad.

 

Only about seven years ago, nothing had audio. we watch TV. And thought nothing of it. But, how could we?  I guess, because we knew no better.

 

To have AD makes so much difference. It’s like a person who is deaf, watching a film without subtitles.

 

Our audio is excellent. And why shouldn’t we know what those who can see knows? We have a great comedy called Mrs Brown. It’s Irish, it’s the funniest comedy, only it’s not audio. but I am sure because the person who plays Mrs Brown is a hater of blind people. I have my reasons for thinking that. Shame really, as there are two blind people in this house who love that show and have been to see it live.

 

It’s great watching it with our Son as he fits in the missing parts. Bless him, he just does it naturally. I adore him for that. I know of some ladies whose Husbands wouldn’t even do that. In fact, I know of some who won’t allow their wives to put audio on the TV as they say it interrupts their viewing.

Really, how? There is nothing on the screen. Only a voice that occasionally pops up and it’s so in the background. My Son says he doesn’t even recognise it. Shamrock says the same. Bless her and she isn’t used to it.

 

Can you imagine this Bloggets? So, your partner for the want of a much better word, (It’s late)

Is blind. Your, vision is perfect.

All she wants to do is laugh when you do and feel sad when you do. Just so she doesn’t feel left out, though we are blind, we still need to know what is going on… and next time you watch a movie, close your eyes for one minute. It will be amazing in that time how much you will miss. May be for one moment, you will not realise what you have indeed, missed, but that moment may be when she is joking with her boyfriend. He goes to hug her. And her face changes whilst she is embracing her boyfriend in the film. That look will alert the viewers/audience, that she isn’t who we thought she was…

 

Sometimes a love scene, he gives her an amazing look. But says no words. It’s obvious to the person watching, that he is in love with her. But without words, how are we to know?

A bent cop words I hate, may be very corrupt, but without words or an obvious voice, how do we know what this policeman is really like?

 

 To the sighted person, they look at the screen and it’s obvious. But if you close your eyes, and realise how much you really will miss.

 

Sometimes it’s important to know what someone is wearing. I mean, it could be a big clue in a movie for example.

 

You miss so much if you are blind when you watch TV, even if you have some sight, still, audio, is a gift.

 

Do the people reading the script for us even realise what a great job they are doing?

 

Isn’t it funny how people can come into your life and really make a difference? It’s some peoples goal to be able to help someone. who makes those people? How do they turn out so selfless?

 

And then there are others who just patronise, never stop to think how an elderly relative for example, will manage to do something, it’s like out of sight, out of mind.

 

And this is why there are some people who are on a self-disruptive road.

 They feel like they have nothing and mean nothing to anyone.

 

Well firstly, you mean a lot to me. Secondly, no one knows what changes will occur throughout the year. Thirdly, you don’t know if your future partner will want children.

 Future partner? Stranger things have happened.

 

Perhaps you are in your seventies, you don’t have children of your own. You do end up meeting a lovely person. Eventually you choose to marry them. They may have a Son for example. The Son, may start to treat you so well. Start to make you feel so happy once again. And then he, may have children, so, your Grandchildren… I guess as close as you will ever get to having blood Grand kids.

 

To be loved again. It’s a feeling. It’s an expression. Someone you are meant to love, but you hurt. What is your partner supposed to do when you are watching TV? Just sit and ache for the days when they too could watch TV?

You may find if you kindly, allow, her/him, to watch TV with Audio on, then you will both be able to laugh together.

 

 

 

DIARY OF LIFES QUOTES BY FIONA CUMMINGS

The house has the fragrance of spices. Sham and BW are cooking. They brought me a sample of their food, but I couldn’t eat it. It was far too spicy. But it smells nice. They cooked salt and pepper chips with a stir fry.

 

 We have cut into our Christmas cake.  I can see me giving so much food away as we have too much. Did I tell you what happened with our grocery order? I booked a slot for delivery weeks ago. I just clicked everything into the basket kind of panic shopped. Just to get in quick with a slot. As if you don’t book your slot about four weeks before Christmas, you miss out on the reasonable charges for delivery. You can pay £10 to have your food delivered at Christmas if you don’t get in early, around here anyway, but everything here, is so expensive.

 

 I ended up paying £5 For delivery. So, my intention was to go into my basket three days before and remove what we don’t need and put in what we do need.

 

Normally, I pay nothing at all for delivery or a couple of pounds. And normally you just go into your basket the night before and sort it out. Well, a full 48 hours before my shopping was due, I went in to remove loads of junk I threw in there just to get it to over forty pounds as that is the only way you can get a slot. It has to be over a certain amount.  But over the few weeks, I was adding what we needed. Only thing was, we freaked out days before our order was due and managed to get a slot as long as we spent over seventy pounds. So, I was so anxious two days before Christmas, I wouldn’t get half the stuff as it would be out of stock, so I bought things that were already in our Christmas basket, that wouldn’t go off… and ordered another shop six day before Christmas… from another shop…

 

Well, as I said, half what was in my Christmas shop, the one I ordered weeks earlier, the one that was due two days before Christmas… I went into to remove more than half of what was in there.

 

Oops… one problem… I was too late.

There must be a mistake I shrieked.

I called Morisons. They said no, because it’s Christmas, it’s 72 hours before it’s due. That’s cut-off point.

Oh

My

Goodness.

So, in the end there was £90 worth of food I didn’t need.

We always buy more at Christmas, like two weeks’ worth of food in one.

Only, we had four loads of shopping.

In two shops!

 

Well as I waddle where by my stomach is starting to match my backside, I have decided I can’t possibly eat another thing. Hub has put on about a stone over the holiday, that’s 14lbs. our Son just does too much exercise to put on weight. Also, because he’s a vegan, it’s hard to be fat if you don’t eat dairy.

I love dairy, I wish I could be as strong as my son, but I can’t I’m a failure… but I don’t eat meat or fish, or anything with a brain or heartbeat. But chocolate and bread is on my menu sadly daily.

 

Our lovely lady who walks our dogs came today. Bless her, she is loaded with cold… as by the way is my Husband… but this poor lady still came and took my dogs out. I told her as soon as I realised, not to take them and to get home, but she insisted she took them. I begged her to only be half as long though. Bless her heart, she is a good kind person. Very selfless. She thanked me so much for the gifts I bought her for Christmas, and really, they weren’t expensive at all. But you would have thought I gave her a winning lottery ticket. It seems the more you spend on people, the less they think of you and the least you spend, people really appreciate you.

 

I guess that is the same in life in general. This year has said goodbye to a load of rubbish in our lives. And it’s a relief. New Year, new us…

 

Talking of new me, kind of, I’m thinking of employing a PT… not to shout orders at me as if I am in the army, but to get moving fast and more often. My friend Rita said she would go for walks with me, but she then started saying she has a program where she walks for so many seconds, then jogs for so many seconds.

Oh, heck…. Em, not sure the world is ready for a jogging Fifi… but I really like her and I do hope she and I do go for walks. I simply have to. I have been talking the talk for so many years, but to stick around to see our Grand Children, is important to me. My Son didn’t have any Grandparents sadly, I don’t want his children to go through the same. Hub and I will love our Grand Children, and need to be fit for them. With only having one child, I guess the most Grand children we may have will be three… and to think about being active with those babies, makes my heart full of joy, now it just needs to be healthy too… having said that, I was out with a friend the other day who is half my age… just getting out of her car into her house, she was out of breath… I was shocked by that. OK, it’s a bit of a walk from her car parking space to her house, and it’s up a slight hill, but still, she is half my age and half my weight. I said to her, if you are like that now, what on earth are you going to be like when you are my, age?

Not sure she was impressed… haha.

 

My highlight of our holiday, was seeing the people who mean something to us. And there is one more family to see and they are expecting us next week. It was lovely to see Hubs brother and sister in law.  He’s a lovely guy we had a fab day, and I get on with my sister in law Leigh, very well.

 

  Next week we are visiting friends and I really am looking forward to seeing them. And then life gets back to normal. And I guess that is when I need to start my new life and stick to it.

 

To end this blog, I shall leave you with some of my quotes from the year and before.

“you can throw stones at someone, it’s up to them if they stand still, or choose to move.””

“people can throw stones at you, it’s up to you if you stand still or choose to move.””

“Dance in the rain and you will sing in the sun””

“After the storm, comes the sun””

“choose to be with those who make you smile, turn your back on those who put you down””

“What at the time seems painful and impossible, turns out to be a blessing in disguise.””

It’s nice to have a pot of gold, but sometimes it’s better for our soul to paint the rainbow sit back and enjoy the colours of life.””

 © Fiona Cummings

 

 

 

  

VOTED NUMBER ONE.... WHY?

(BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM)

Good afternoon Bloggets, gosh, it’s wild out there and so cold… OK winter, I’m done with you now, bring on the spring flowers and yolky skies. My Hub back tonight thankfully, though before he returns I hope the wind slows down for his transportation. Last night though my Son was home, I slept with the lamp on. I’m such a wimp. Obviously, I still can’t see with the light on, but I just feel better. Where did Waggatail sleep? Not in her bed like a good girl downstairs, but in her bed in Boy Wonders room. He felt sorry for her without the Little Fella. Haha. He said he woke up during the night and she was just standing there, staring at the wall. For ages… I said possibly she woke up and wasn’t sure where she was? I mean, we do that don’t we if we are used to sleeping somewhere else and we wake up in a strange environment, don’t we? Or, is that just me?

 

Well, what a strange day, after being blown to the shops and back really struggling with my hair covering my face looking as if I’m about to rob the shop with my new facial fashion, I was in the kitchen with my Son when suddenly he decided to be funny and play a very annoying song very loud and proceed to dance around the kitchen trying to get me to join in with his silly dance… (The Tea Towel Dance) very hygienic… that’s gone in the wash. Smile. When my doorbell rang playing the tune of (Midnight in Moscow) or, Moscow nights… so, the normal ten notes seemed to go on longer. Well, there I am with a glass clock in one hand, and a duster in the other slightly out of breath as my Son tried to get me to move faster than I wished to do at that time in the morning, whilst holding glass, well, hang on, at any time of the day actually, his moves were rather energetic… I placed the clock on the work top, duster next to it, ran as fast as a blind person can run with half opened doors as my Son slightly closed them to allow room for his morning activity of knocking out shapes in the kitchen… jumping over the dog bed that he’s brought from his room all in the space of knowing that one ring one person equals normally one running off back to his van and driving away with my parcel.

 

Well avoiding lethal dog toys and BW’s trainers which in themselves are the equivalent of a small coffee table. I got to the door. Rather out of breath as the thought of my dog food man driving  off wasn’t a  good one.

 

A very polite man stood there as I held out my arms to receive the dog food… oddly, not for a hug!!!

 

“Hello. I’m your taxi driver.””

Me, that’s very nice love, but I haven’t ordered one!””

Haha, well this man stayed on my doorstep for a while and the mystery was unfolded. All sorted but very strange. In so many ways. Ways that you wouldn’t understand unless you were inside of his head… oh, and mine.

 

Within seconds the bell went again. Still my Son playing this annoying song… this time he’d turned it up even louder. I could barely hear the doorbell. Was it my taxi driver back? Nope, this time it was the dog food delivery man and he announced that is who he was. So, I took the garage keys and opened the door for him to put the food directly in the garage. Locking the door, I blew back into my house. Oh, my, the noise in my house? My dog running around because someone was at the door to see her… obviously, that is the only reason I have a door, to allow people in to see her. Her bells ringing like the blooming bells of Notre dame, my Sons music of (BoomBoomBoom by the Vengaboys) I shall share that uplifting happy song at the end of this blog… and an annoying sound in the background I couldn’t quite hear what it was. Until I made my music sing to me in a lower sound. Well, it was Midnight in Moscow playing to me again… why? Who on earth was  at my door?

 

Running again to my door wishing I had pockets in my trousers to record my extra activities of the day from my iPhone health App… there was no one there. Or, was there? I said hello, as often no one answers they just stand there looking at me as if I’m not a full shilling, or a sandwich short of a picnic.

 

For my English students, a shilling is old money a former British coin and monetary unit equals to one twentieth of a pound/£ or, 12 pence!

 

Well, I had my dog food and I wasn’t expecting anyone else so again I closed the door only to hear the bell again. I unlocked the door again no voices and no way I was going to have a conversation on my doorstop with myself.

Again.

Closing the door, I hear my Son laughing in the background. Looking as if I had been dragged from a hedge backwards by an angry tiger on steroids, I not so calmly asked.

“What’s so funny Bozo?””

I often speak in loving tongue to my Son…

 

He replied. “Nice tune Mum…””

I said to him. “Take your finger off the box””

 Our doorbell is without wires and you just plug the box in the wall… Then I realised he was still in the kitchen and that isn’t where our plug to our bell is, so I went to the bell Son still laughing… well, what was going on? I went back to the door and pressed my bell, you know, to ring it? And have you know, it stopped… I really should go back out and see if it will ring again? Why it had a meltdown moment, I don’t know… Reason why I thought it was my Boy Wonder, is because he’s a prankster.

 

Last night Sham was on the scales trying to get weighed. She almost died when she saw her weight… she screamed in fear as if they were right, she would have put on a couple of stone and would have been about four stone overweight for her height. Then she shouted at Boy Wonder as he laughed… he got the scales out for her as for some reason she asked him to do so, he placed them on the floor and rather than leave go, without her seeing, he kept his fingers on them pushing them down. Hahahahahaha. Now that is so funny but Sham didn’t see the funny side.

 

Previous to that we all sat around our dining table and had a nice chat. I just love the dinner table. It means so much to me. The meaning of a table is one of faith thankfulness and family. Faith because we should always be grateful we have food on our table, be thankful for those around it and hopefully that will be our family even there are three of us with Hub BW and myself, and in the future, I hope to extend that family to grandchildren. The table is a focus point where people talk. Sometimes in this horrible world, it’s the only time we get chance to talk to our kids.

 

 

IN SECOND PLACE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

I hope you all had a safe Halloween. I felt so bad I didn’t do much for the spooky cookie night and I felt like I let my Son down. He’s 6 feet 3 or four, is all muscles but still Mummy’s baby. When he asked yesterday, was I not even making pumpkin soup, and saying he couldn’t eat treats anymore and finally does this mean we don’t celebrate it anymore? Oh, the guilt I felt. Bad Mamma!

 

But I did have fun with the children at the door. When telling my Son, he cringed. Well, actually, when I was relating my stories to Boy Wonder, I, cringed… I just sporadically get into the mood and well, I go for it.

 

So, the doorbell rang. I opened it in my best witch’s voice. I really get into the character which would be fine my Son said, if I actually was dressed as a witch. Hahaha.

as far as I’m concerned, also as long as the children at the door know I’m putting on the voice. Well it didn’t take me long before I realised that they weren’t at all sure my voice was just how I spoke. I said it when I moved here, people from this area just don’t have the same sense of humour as good old Geordies from Newcastle.

 

But it got even more weird. The next group of children came. I opened the door. Now if you are blind, you never know if there are two children or five. As two can make as much noise as five. Because as I discovered last night, most of the kids just didn’t interact or even say a word!

 

I started to ask how many are there of you? They must have thought I was mad. As why would I ask that question, if they are all stood in front of me? Hahaha.

 

So, this group came. How many are there of you scary lot?

“Five”” They answered.

Then they started to put buckets baskets whatever in front of me. I proudly got my bucket give it a little wiggle as a witch would do just before she was about to dish out her potion, just to make sure the ingredients are all mixed up properly… and I scooped a big handful out held my hand out and as the sweets were about to fall from my hand, gentle little hands picked one. Bless them, they were tiny little chocolate pumpkins in orange foil. So, I said take more please. And then I had to slip into my normal voice which is totally different to my witches one, I had to then say I’m blind, so can’t see to put them in your basket.  At this point I’m sure the parents thought they were knocking at the door of a person with a split personality… one little boy replied.

“You’re blind?”” oh, heck I thought, what can of worms have I opened here? Yes, I replied. And then he continued.

“Coo’oo’ool.

How do you know where the sweets are?”” I replied. I’m clever… well what other answer does one give on her doorstep knowing the parents were freezing and hoping the kids would just collect and pass by to the next door so they can return home to their warm houses… he continued. Oh, yes, he didn’t stop there. It got more surreal.

“I wish I was blind; how do you get blind?””

Oh, my, God. What is wrong with kids these days?

I closed the door to this odd child and his scary group of ghouls, and thought, right. O.K. jog on…

 

The bucket/basket I held proudly at the door showing the children that I was trying to join in with their Halloween fun, I learned later on that night, much later on, like after the event, that the basket/bucket wasn’t one with a pumpkins face on, but, oh, gosh, I’m red writing this… it only had piggin chickens on… it was an Easter basket… Hahahahaha.  Well, how was I to know? It’s been a long time since Easter.

 

So, am I becoming one of those women who are a bit mad? Like an embarrassing Aunty? Or worse one of those ladies who wear a red dress with a purple hat?

 

Then my Son text me to tell me he was going to be late from work, as he quote. (Was taking Jemima home, because she had a pumpkin.)

Right, Son.

Well my first thought was he’s so kind. Second thought, what was Jemima doing at work with a pumpkin? And you wouldn’t want to know my third thought… actually or forth.

 

Well Hub came home and The Little Fella was so happy to be back. He was wild. Hub said for the past two days he was so good. The dog of course. Though I’m sure Hub was good too. And it was weird. LF kept barking. I waited with excitement to see who was coming to the door next though I was a little wary as it was now late. But no one came. There were no cars outside or we would have heard them. At one point, Hub turned the TV down so we could hear better. No voices outside. And when BW came home, he said Mum, why is LF barking? He looked out of the window, a privilege that has long passed my ability, and confirmed no one was there. I just said. Must be the Halloween ghosties…

 

© Fiona Cummings 2018

IN THIRD PLACE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good afternoon Bloggets. I went to our local pet shop today to buy a couple more toys for our dogs. They were in the half price sale. One is a fluffy elephant, see, I even have my dogs’ elephants, by the way, did I tell you my Brother in law bought me a beautiful wooden box for Christmas with elephants on it? I collect wooden boxes, yep, something else I collect, but this one is so different to any other one I have. It’s stunning. The other toy I got my dogs is a fluffy pig. I went in for one toy with rope legs because the Christmas elf I got them for Christmas, The Little Fella put a hole in it on day two. And he loved it. That had rope legs, but I came out with two, fluffy toys, not one, and these have rope tails, so came rope.

 

They love them and when we got them home, they ran around the house with one each in their mouths.

 

Now my Hub is fitting my new lightbulb. Remember the one that changes colours? It’s easy to fit. It’s even easy to work with our HIVE, but to connect it to Alexa? Different story… he likes his toys though, so I’m keeping well out of this and letting him have fun with his tech.

 

We have had a lovely day, laughed a lot and now going to try to sort out going to see our friends. We are going out at some point with our Son and his girlfriend. For a meal at my new favourite restaurant. Just not sure when.

 

It’s cold today, so I’m trying to warm my hands around a cup of coffee. And then back to the kitchen to see what’s for dinner tonight. Hub has loads of food to eat as still getting through his turkey. In fact, he has frozen three parcels of meat and is left with a plate of it and of course the soup on the top of the stove he made.

 

It’s funny now Christmas is over, I’m itching to take our decorations down. Hub says no though, he wants to keep them up until the second. I can’t believe we are about to take them down for another year. Where is time going?

 

And that leads me onto what you voted for your top three blogs of the year… in third place.

Soon Hub and I shall be decorating our house for Christmas. We like to be early to look forward. As soon as the big day is over, I’m so ready to take down my decs. Last year on Boxing day, the day after Christmas, I was getting the boxes ready to start to dismantle everything. To Hubs horror. He wanted to wait until New Year’s Day, which is not like him, he’s normally like me, but most people in our avenue of all sorts, put the decorations up later and down much later. I always say the same. They are decorations for Christmas, not called New Year decorations,

 

I dislike New Year immensely. I could quite easily just sit at home with Hub and watch TV. Even going to bed before midnight. Is there a Bah Humbug version of New Year?

 

 The funny thing is, loads of my friends dislike that time of year too. We have been invited out for New Year, but to be honest, I’m so not feeling it…

 

New Year is just people who want to get as drunk as they can and snog a total stranger dressed as a chicken. People who promise to do all sorts keeping in touch throughout the new year who never bother again. Until the next year. People who wish everyone a happy new year but don’t give a stuff if they have a happy one or not. Hahaha. See, Bah Humbug!!!

 

I used to love New Year in Russia. It was exciting. And I was young enough to believe in promises. Also, there were no kissable chickens in sight.

 

In a country full of dirty snow and bleak skies, elderly ladies looking very angry and torturous eye treatment, a sparkle at New Year was much needed. The thought of Ded Moroz, Grandfather Frost turning up at the hotel I stayed at, absolutely drunk out of his skull, gave such amusement to my teenage years.

 

I had two days off my treatment. A good start. I would go to the hairdressers in our hotel. It would be something like 4 roubles towards the end of the eighties, about £4. My Mum would always have a choice of beautiful dresses for me to pick. I never got a choice of clothes when I was young, not when bought, but I had the pick of my Mums selection that she packed in our huge suitcase. This particular year one of my most favourite New Years of all time, I had a Russian boyfriend. He was tall and so very handsome. Everywhere we went together, girls/women used to eat him with their eyes and their voices would be like melting chocolate around him!  I used to feel so proud to be with him. He worked as a model but we met at the hotel where I stayed each visit. He said he would like to see what I was wearing for our night. I had three dresses that year. One was a beautiful cream lace short dress without sleeves. The other was a very long pale green dress that was floaty more like a bridesmaid’s dress. My least favourite. I was hoping he would not have picked that one as he said he would like to be the one who decided… and the third, my favourite was a very long straight silky dress. Again, shoestring straps with a very figure-hugging bodice which really showed off my figure. I had one in those days. It was what we call teal now days, but back then I think it was called sea green.

 

I had gold four-inch heels. So, into the cockroach bathroom, but don’t worry, as they ran when I turned on the light… change and out. So, I put on my favourite dress first, the teal one. Stood there. Looked at my Boyfriend, he smiled and just looked through my soul with his steely blue eyes. I still in my mind see his face. He was the most handsome of all men. I melted at his glance. His presence was a lifetime gift as far as I was concerned.

 

My second dress after getting no comment from that one, was the very revealing lace one. I stood before him. Again, he smiled. I turned to walk away as he wasn’t going to say yes to that one, as he was very protective, or jealous if any other man would talk to me, so no way he would be happy me wearing that.

 

I put on the frumpy all cover up one… felt like I had lost a bride. Walked out and to my horror, he walked over to me. Took my hand. Kissed the back of it. With his other hand, he turned up the old-fashioned tape machine I used to take to Russia for some western comfort of music, and with that same hand. He placed his hand on the small of my back put a kiss into my neck and gently danced with me. At the end of the dance, I wanted to take off that dress and put on my jeans. Then put away frumpy dress number three. Hang up dress number two and on the back of the hotel room chair, lay the dress number one, the one I was going to wear that night….

 

He and I were like peas in a pod. We thought alike.

Oh.

Until he told me I would be the most beautiful girl at the dance that night.

In my bright green floaty, frummmmmpy dress.

Nonononononononono

But,

Yep.

He wanted me to wear that blooming awful thing.

 

I would do anything he asked of me. I was his puppet. He pulled my strings that night.

 

Later on, I asked him why that dress?

He replied.

“your body is only for me to see…””

Okey dokey

I still danced the night away with lots of guys from Georgia. I was far from flirtatious, I just adored dancing. And the best fun was either the delegations from Mexico, with their guitars and forever singsongs, or Georgians who were always so much fun.

 

Champagne was a flow and I laughed and had so much fun with many friends who I had known for years. Genuine people. Once I got to know Russian people, I understood most of them and all they wanted to do in their rather repressed life was be happy. And for New Year’s Eve, we were all so happy. Sadly, reality had to wake up and life once again began!

 

© Fiona Cummings

 

 

THE MYSTERY OF CHRISTMAS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 Dearest Bloggets, how are you all? Christmas is over for another year. For some that may be a relief other people may be feeling really so sad that now all the family are away, back to their lives and they are on their own.

 

For others, you may be relieved that you have peace in your lives again, have you witnessed that old Christmas family fight? A big row? I hope your Christmas was peaceful and set you right to face the New Year in with positivity.

 

Almost every single person our Son knows has been to the pub every single day since before Christmas. I hate that.  Sadly, our minds are being wired to have no imagination or ability to have individual thoughts. It’s getting drunk or nothing. My Son was asking me what did I think why people his friends for example, spent so much time drinking? I just said drink is a drug. They sadly are hooked. It used to be people who didn’t work but now it seems it’s everyone. Is it just in England?

 

So, if you have no money, what else is there to do? Well, how much does it cost now to go out drinking? Well if you are BW’s friends, anything from 60, to over a hundred pounds. For one night. How much does it cost to go to the theatre? Unless you get the best seats in London, not that much or the cinema, again, may be £20 for two of you?  Bowling? How boring may be? Well if there are a few of you, it’s fun… wrap up well go for a walk, nothing to stop you from stopping in at a country pub for a drink… but when you have five six or seven drinks and don’t include anything else in your day/night, and you do that three four or more times a week, it’s to me an addiction. And if you do that every week for a month, just for one person you are talking about on average, £240 per month. So, I doubt it’s for people who are poor, as they just couldn’t afford it. Where is the culture in the world? We are losing it. I know I am one out of a thousand who feels like this, I just find it so sad that we are becoming a country of heavy drinkers. A close friend of mine drinks five times per week. About five bottles of wine per week. 240 bottles of wine per year, for one person… and that is excluding whatever else she may drink on a works night out.

 

OK, rant over now, I’m just curious if you have this problem if you think it’s even a problem, in your country?

 

It’s just after seven in the evening. It’s the 27^th day in December, so heading towards the end of the year. But still we have a few days left of 2018. What are your plans for New Year? Do you have any resolutions?

 

I shall tell you mine in a few months. As I haven’t had any for years because I can’t stick to them for more than three and a quarter hours…

But believe me, if I stick to it, you will learn for sure what it was!!!

 

My Husband is eating for Britain. I don’t know where he puts it all. I could be sick knowing what he is eating, but it’s a good job as we have so much food.

 

He is now on the hunt for a basket of nuts I bought him. They are shelled nuts with cinnamon dust on them… Talking of being on the hunt. Oh, my, wait until I tell you this story!

 

OK, a month or even five weeks ago, I bought Hub some items from a craft fair. He likes these kind of things… They were or are, hand made chrome dining items. I got him a very unusual tiny dish with a beautiful spoon and a larger dish again, a shape I have never seen it’s like before. With matching spoon. Then I got him some salad servers.  I know unusual for a man, but he loves fine things for the dining room…

 

So, these spoons were so pretty they were shiny chrome with stunning twisted multi coloured handles. I wrapped them placed them in a large box with the other two smaller boxes of dishes also wrapped. The box I sealed and put in my robe until Christmas eve. Since then, we have changed the bed three times… believe me, this is relevant.

 

Christmas came, Hub opened his boxes with the two dishes in. loved them. I told him to look at the bottom of the big box as that is where I put the serving utensils. He looked. Nothing. I said there has to be.

 No. they weren’t there. Where were they?

 

I looked everywhere. Our son did too. Boxing day, we looked again and today, my friend came, Hub went to put his gifts away as they were in a pile in our bedroom. He came downstairs and handed me a box. It was the spoons. No way, where were they? How did he know what they were if they were wrapped as I still have gifts to hand out to our friends, how didn’t he know they were our friends’ gifts? He said, firstly because they were on our bed. Not where our friends’ gifts are and secondly, they weren’t wrapped….

 

O

K

Well firstly I wrapped the box I remember doing so. Secondly, I know I put them in the bottom of my large box with the other two boxes on top and sealed the big box. And thirdly, on our bed? I wrapped the gift weeks ago. Since then the bed has been changed so many times. We have slept in the bed for goodness sake. The box would have fell off, it would have dropped off. We would have felt it as we changed the bed and re made it again so many times.  So, where about was it on our bed?    

Only on my pillow!

Well I am still in shock. Explain that one? It can only be a poltergeist. Or some kind of spirit trying to tell us something. Letting us know they are there. But who and why?

 

OK, going to watch TV now with our Son. We would normally go to the pub quiz tonight, but the pub owners are off on another holiday.

 

So, a lovely day with my friend a catch up and exchange of gifts. Great TV with the little family of ours and a beautiful memory of the mystery of Christmas. Especially secret gifts… all I can say is explain that one?

 

    

 

DIARY OF CHRISTMAS DAY BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good evening Bloggets. Well we have had Christmas day for another year. BW got back home last night late I think it was just after eleven. He had been awake for about 24 hours. So now in the house safe, especially after he drove home in the thick fog for an hour and a half, pitch black too. Our family all together safe under the same roof. For me there is no better feeling. I could relax and after the night before, it was so good to close my eyes and sleep.

 

Once we checked Santa had been, I put some Christmas shaped crumpets in the toaster for Boy Wonder. I let him sleep in for a while, but just after 10 a.m. his Dad shouted on him. BW showered and came down stairs by this point we made sure all of the dinner was finished and ready just to cook for a final half hour.

 

Then the huge tradition of us all opening our gifts in front of the fire with the tree lights twinkling, Hahah, OK, we have an electric fire and who knows if the lights were twinkling, but in my imagination, they were. Our dogs were kept in their little prison but they could see through the full-length glass window in between their bed and our sitting room. We had a huge box in the middle of the room to put all of the wrapping paper in. we take turns in opening our gifts. I love it that way, we can appreciate what we have and know who from.

 

I opened my gift from Hub. A beautiful bottle of perfume by Laura Ashley that I have never tried before, it is stunning. BW received his big bottle of aftershave that I love him wearing and Hub got a bottle of a different kind too.

 

Then I opened my gingerbread bath bomb. It smells so amazing, one almost wants to eat it. BW received a fantastic gift from his Uncle and Aunt. Hubs Brother and sister in law.  It was a hamper full of vegan goodies, he loves it and he has been saying he would like to take snacks into his office. As he sits and drinks his coffee in his amazing new coffee press or whatever it’s called. It’s rose gold and holds hot coffee.  It was a gift from his friend. Now he has snacks to eat too.

 

From BW, Hub got the most beautiful designer shirt and for casual wearing, a pair of designer joggers. He also received from him some chocolate covered coffee beans. From my baby I got a beautiful Christmas candle gift set and one of those lovely saucers with a lamp like lid to go on the top of those candles. I also received from him a hairbrush that smells of strawberries and a box of smellies from a famous soap shop.

 

BW got a vegan friendly wallet, though he will keep his old one as he has had that since he was fourteen our friends from America bought him it and he treasures it but it’s real leather and our Son doesn’t want to use anything from animals now. Even my new shampoo he won’t use as it is made with honey.

 

He got a bottle opener with a chicken on saying my friends are vegans and a vegan china mug with every kind of creature on and a vegan slogan. He also got a mug with alpacas on wearing earphones dancing. Haha. I didn’t know that, I just thought it was with alpacas in a field may be?

 

Hub got loads of silver wear from me but really oddly, one thing I bought him, my favourite, isn’t there. And it was in a big box, so not sure where that is, but I’m sure it will turn up, though I have looked for it all day.

 

I got the boys all kinds of lovely toiletries. Hub received a dressing gown and they both got slippers.

 

I got a big basket full of gorgeous bottles of bath oils and body lotions as well as body butters soaps shampoos and more. My big gift is a wonderful scratching cat made from stone. It’s so real. Full size too. The detail is wonderful so intricate. It’s for the garden. We got BW some lovely new bedding too. The kind he hinted for. it’s lovely and warm and features penguins…

 

Our Son got some happy socks too. They are every colour under the sun… oh, this one will make you laugh… remember Hub and I are blind.

Well from him to me, I received a lightbulb…. Not just any kind of light bulb, oh, no, this one flashes all different colours and you work it from Alexa.

 

Why would someone blind want one of those?

Because I am blind, doesn’t mean the world is blind and I like my house to look just like yours with a twist…

 

I received so many chocolates and I told Hub not to buy me them but he didn’t answer so I think they must have come from Santa himself…

 

BW received some lovely warm Pyjamas but they are really stylish. He got his favourite soft drink and we opened our stockings, his was full of cosmetics and vegan treats like seeds. Nuts and so on.

 

He got a men’s manicure set too. And his final gift was for him and Hub. Because BW had one when he was a little boy, a horrid brat of a child bit into it and it had to be thrown out. So, 17 years later, I renewed it… Hub hasn’t seen one ever, well, what is it?

A stretch Armstrong.

He’s a little guy and you pull his arms the other person pulls his legs and he stretch’s about ten times longer than his normal state.

 

He wears a funny expression upon his face, as if he is grimacing as he’s lifting weights… he and Hub had a great time with Mr. Armstrong.

 

I bought Hub a huge carved leaf. Sitting on the leaf, are a family of squirrels eating nuts. I got him a chrome squirrel nut cracker too. You lift his tail up and pop the nut in his mouth and bingo, he’s cracked your nut…

 

BW received a mould that makes drink shots. You pour the water in and freeze it and you have six perfectly shaped shot glasses made from ice… he also got a lamp and more, I got loads more too as did Hub.

 

We received vouchers smellies candles and more from others too. And of course, my beautiful jumper I told you my friend bought me… oh, seriously, I absolutely love that. I can’t wait to wear it but it’s for posh outings… and the candle I told you about too, same friend bought me that, I lit it last night as she got me to open her gifts the other day, it smells so good. So pretty. I love it. It’s in the most beautiful pot with a lid.

 

My friend Arty bought me a box of exquisite body butters. Oh, the smell is so good. She also got me a candle and Hub received a lovely cheese board full of delicious cheeses from our friend Pip. I got Hub tickets to see two classical singers at the end of next year. We are going with our two friends Geordie and David. Oh, remind me, I have a funny story to tell you about that family and how I totally embarrassed myself…

Again….

 

We received chutneys and crackers as well as a big round cheese you melt in the oven. A dish to go with it too.

 

I got my slippers from my friend Kingsie and from our other friend Yvonne, we got a gorgeous gift of I’m not sure if they are glass or porcelain, but they are heavy round and have piano keys on them. They are tea coasters. They are class.

 

Everyone was kind and we appreciate everybody. Sham came late morning and we all exchanged gifts. Once again, our Son totally spoiled her. She got some really beautiful gifts. Our boy spent far too much, on everyone to be honest. Sham gave me a salt and pepper set, you may remember I collect them, but really, I’m going to have to stop. I think I have thirty sets at least now. well these are lovely, they are budgies. I also received a candle called Wood Wick where there is wood in the centre to light rather than a wick. It crackles like a coal fire. The smell from them is beautiful. And they come in really nice dishes.

 

We had lunch the three of us as Sham met with her family in the local pub. By the time she had her dinner, I’m not too sure she would remember what she had the next day… Her sister kindly cooked it as her Mum went to work.

 

We had a lovely day, so much food. Hub and I re a team. We work so well together in the kitchen. I said we need a platter rather than a plate… so with Hubs turkey meatloaf and pigs in blankets, my family turkey vegetarian roast and our Sons Vegan roast, remembering to mash the turnip and mash potatoes without butter and once on the plate, I added the butter our butter on ours and our Sons on his.

 

I made our Son a different stuffing to ours too. And I couldn’t add sherry to our gravy like I normally do as feared it may not be vegan friendly. But it was still delicious. We had our traditional northern mushy peas and cabbage, roast potatoes, mash, as I said, turnip and loads of other things.

We were so full, but we sat around our table with the candle glowing and we laughed and chatted. Our hearts were full of love for each other. I had a thought for my dear friends who have lost their loved ones this year. I ached for them as they are good people, we had Christmas songs playing in the background and after our Christmas pudding, BW had his vegan one with vegan custard and Hub and I had one we bought from Aldi’s it was absolutely by far, the best Christmas pudding I have ever had. Orange slices right through, huge cherries and loads of nuts. I had brandy sauce and Hub had brandy cream with his.

 

Coffee and mints and sat with the TV on and just reflected.

 

We three had a lovely day.  We even did the tradition of listening to the Queens speech… our dogs opened their gifts and they had so much fun with all their new toys. Dogs are so grateful, mind you so is our Son, bless him, he thanked us ten times and more. And I thanked him just for being with us and I hope he will always be.

 

I hope your Christmas was peaceful and you felt love. Until later, Merry Christmas.